Acidic Polysaccharide Extracts from Gastrodia Rhizomes Suppress the Atherosclerosis Risk Index through Inhibition of the Serum Cholesterol Composition in Sprague Dawley Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Obesity is associated with a broad spectrum of cardio-metabolic disturbances, including atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CDV). A high-fat diet has been shown to cause an elevation of the plasma cholesterol levels in humans, and the control of serum cholesterol has been demonstrated to be important in the prevention of CVD and atherosclerosis. The aims of this study were to demonstrate that crude and acidic polysaccharide extracts from Gastrodia rhizomes suppress atherosclerosis through the regulation of serum lipids in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed a high-fat diet. We examined the concentrations of serum lipids, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol, in SD rats fed a high-fat diet and evaluated the atherogenic index. Here, we show that both crude and acidic polysaccharide extracts from Gastrodia rhizomes inhibited the total cholesterol and LDL levels. Moreover, there was a significantly suppressed atherosclerosis risk due to the acidic polysaccharide extract from Gastrodia rhizome. Taken together, our results suggested that acidic polysaccharide extracts from Gastrodia rhizomes might be beneficial for lowering the incidence of CVD and atherosclerosis by reducing the de novo synthesis of total cholesterol and the LDL levels.

Alleviating VLDL overproduction is an important mechanism for Laminaria japonica polysaccharide to inhibit atherosclerosis in LDLr−/− mice with diet‐induced insulin resistance

“…The overproduction of VLDL has been considered as an important cause for the initiation and development of atherosclerosis, and this event is highly associated with insulin signaling [10,21]. Although some polysaccharides have shown the ability to inhibit atherosclerosis, the underlying mechanism of polysaccharides against atherosclerosis is still unknown to us so far [15,16]. In the present study, we found that long-term consumption of HFD caused atherosclerosis, serum VLDL overproduction, and IR in LDLr −/− mice, suggesting HFDinduced atherosclerosis is related to VLDL overproduction by impaired insulin signaling.…”

“…Since the conversion of macrophages into foam cells is a major hallmark of early stage atherosclerotic lesions and LJP61A is suggested to exert the bioactivity as a whole molecule after oral administration, we guess that LJP61A might have the potential of preventing atherosclerosis development. Although some other crude polysaccharides from Gastrodia rhizomes and Ganoderma lucidum have also been shown to exhibit this function, the mechanism related to prevention of atherosclerosis by polysaccharides is still not reported so far . The main purpose of the present work is to estimate the actions of LJP61A on decreasing VLDL secretion and attenuating atherosclerosis in diet‐induced insulin‐resistant mice.…”

Effect of <i>Carica papaya</i> Leaf Extract on Serum Lipids and Liver Metabolic Parameters of Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

“…The atherogenic index (A.I.) was calculated according to the equations of Kim et al [9]. Liver lipids were extracted according to the Folch et al [10] procedure; triacylglycerols (TAG) and cholesterol concentrations were measured using enzymatic determination from BioSystems Laboratories.…”

Effect of polysaccharide from Bacillus subtilis sp. on cardiovascular diseases and atherogenic indices in diabetic rats

“…An inordinate number of bacterial EPSs has attracted the interest of many scientists who have examined their composition, structure, biosynthesis, and functional properties [ 9 ]. A number of reports have been published on the anti-atherosclerosis effect of acidic EPSs and the inhibition of total cholesterol [ 10 ]. Atherosclerosis is combined with a broad spectrum of cardio-metabolic disturbances, including diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease.…”